Lets see who can decipher all this.
I’ll tell the story later…
I’m going to guess termites ate the joists.
Not termite!
It looks like a new foundation is coming in. Brick veneer mortar is always in contact with soil.
Mother earth decided to leave the area.
The wife didn’t feel like packing so they are moving the entire house.
What’s going to keep the bricks from falling off when she’s moving down the road???
Bruce, the gutter downspout is missing an elbow!
Looks like a front load garage…how are they going to move that with the house?
I would have like a bit of a clearer question.
Was this a problem or a retro fit.
If a retro fit. I will say a basement was installed.
If a problem I will commit to 2 answeres.
I can not see enough of the topographical view and I also see tree roots.
1:That ground shifted and the foundation and wall here being repaired.
2: that a tree damaged the foundation wall and a retro fitting has taken place.
I might be installing a basement in 6 weeks. WOOO my back hurts already.
Guess the sarcasm didn’t come through too well in type. I was only joking with my post.
It looks like they are trying to move it from above the rim joist. This would tell me that the rim joist is filled with termites or roted. However this house will not be able to be moved if this is just brick veneer without rebuilding a support joist.:shock:
Japan’s use and enforcement of strict building codes and its efforts to retrofit older buildings to make them earthquake-resistant are being credited for saving buildings and lives. In the U.S., some are looking at those efforts and suggest taking steps for more earthquake readiness. “Congress should resist its current temptation to strip funding from the Pacific warning system.” Western states should be updating their readiness. New construction should adopt Japan-style quake-proofing in vulnerable regions.
Bruce, (pic’s 1 & 3) Were the footings poured* on* that layer of organic matter and then was backfilled? Too difficult to judge depth in pic 1. Also don’t know if basement or crawl. Pic 4 looks as if half the lot was cut out of the hill, and the other half was filled in, leading to pic 1 & 3.
Bruce all photos are showing all the equipment to lift a home. Its the reason that is troubling me. You show evidence of a root system. I work using excavators now and then and do not understand the question you are asking to interpret in the photo #3 of the roots system in that in sandwiched in the laom layers…
The nearest I can suspect is that there was land movement and the home is being repaired.
Yes, that layer of organic material visible in picture 3 caused the house (crawlspace foundation) to settle badly. The story is that some rock excavating was done in the past and backfill added before the development was started.
The builder is out of business and the owner had to hire a foundation repair company but their fix did not last since the stable earth was so deep the posts used to stabilize the house just leaned over as the house moved sideways and downwards.
Now they hired a contractor who in turn hired a house moving company to level and stabilize the house. Since the repairs require digging down really far they are going to add a basement under 2/3 of the house. Even with the large beams that will be used in the permanent plan, the basement ceiling height will be around 9 feet under the beams.
Could this have been figured out during construction?
Yes, but soil tests are not real common around here on pier and curtain wall construction as is with slab on grade.
A good footing contractor would have figured it out even though the organics were several feet below the depth he was digging to by paying attention to the sound of the backhoe engine while digging. A good footing contractor learns to notice how hard the machine is working which translates compaction of the ground to the sound of the engine. In other words, if its easy to dig, you have a problem.
Bruce, you are right on the money. As a younger man I used to drive am old D-6 for a demolition company. You new right away if it was going to be easy or difficult just by the engine strain.
My thoughts exactly
Looks like J.J. hit the nail on the head. Good work.
Keep them coming Mr.King.
A practice of asking questions from photos on how to evaluate the problem being repaired has always been a good experience and training exercise. Thank you Mr.King
Sorry I did not read all your post.
Typical of my early morning rush to open the computer and cram in more studying. Woo-ow. Sorry
That is up to the contractor to do all the safety and preliminary work. To asses **all **needs.Some one in charge should have been present during the back fill process to asses the back-fill.
Bad back-fill is infamous. Work with a good company and have them sign a waver to only bring what is needed on the job.
Yes the operator has a duty to call out any obvious land strata observations and note it for there own records.
You are not to disturbed the base unless you have repacking equipment,tampers, rollers etc. Its a cost plus on the job. Even them it is not the same as natural packed compression of earth strata.
I am not familiar with cement post and beam. Never witnessed any. Only footers + metal post and beam.
Statistic= 80 percent of contractors go out of business with the first 30 months in Quebec. I read that stat looking up construction business longevity in Quebec, seeing how many residential builders are here and gone leaving the owners high and dry on the 5 to 10 year home guarantee and warranty. Its fatil mistakes like this that are so prevalent in the business. Rushing or not paying attention to a job and trying not to overrun costs and make a fare hard earned dollar. Some times its just planed greed.
Sorry for the edit. Did not read your full answer.
Thanks again Mr,King. Try to keep quizzes like that coming every now and them. It is refreshing and enjoyable.